New York Following California's Lead as U.S. Renewable Energy Capital?

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Researched by Industrialinfo.com (Industrial Information Resources Incorporated; Houston, Texas). It hardly gives you a radical chill of surprise to learn that, what is claimed to be, the largest solar electric rooftop system at any university in the world, and the largest in Southern California, will be installed at Loyola Marymount University (LMU) early this year. But what does bring a bracing gust of wind to the rotors, of the clean and renewable, is the promised directive from Governor Pataki of New York that within the next decade 25% of that state's electricity supply should come from sources like solar and wind power.

To be non-judgmental and correctly fair, New York already produces 17% of its electrical power from renewable sources, albeit mainly hydroelectric, which statistically puts it ahead of many other states. But achieving an additional clean 8% percent in that very energetic state is still a big ask.

The American Wind Energy Association says the governor's order could mean construction of around 4,000 MW of alternative power across the state and the official backing would release finance for projects since suppliers like Con Ed will be required to buy the energy produced.

Industrialinfo.com has identified over 1,000 MW of planned wind projects in the state of New York.

Click on the image at right to view the New York wind power projects list.

New York's renewable energy targets have now become some of the most driven in the USA. New Jersey has pledged to be 6.5% renewable by 2012 and Texas is hitching to 2.2% by 2009.

Pataki also wants New York to adopt standards for auto emission reduction. Environmentalists say that if the standards California hopes to have in place by the 2009 auto model year are followed by New York the impact on carbon dioxide reduction would be "significant."

At LMU the 81,000 square foot rooftop will generate around 880,000 kilowatt-hours annually, which is equivalent to the electricity needed to power 150 homes. Outlay for this output is more than $4.3 million. Rebates of $3.7 million from the Los Angeles department of water and light (LADWP) and $325,000 from the Southern California Gas Company (SCGS) will offset the project expense. These contributions result in an actual cost to the university of only $325,000. To finish this zero sum LMU receives a $325,000 incentive from SCGS as part of a statewide program implemented by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). Annual savings from the system are $120,000.

The 723 KW rooftop is being installed by a partnership of the solar electric company PowerLight (Berkeley, California), LADWP and SCGS on three of the university's largest buildings at the Westchester campus.

Recently LMU was awarded a $21,250 grant from the metropolitan water district for its water conservation efforts. Launched in mid 2002, the program began with the replacement of 85 water-energy guzzling top-load washers with new washers, which use 56% less water and save more than 2.5 million gallons of water equivalent to $10,000 annually. In addition the energy used to heat 300,000 gallons of water is offset by more than half.